I don't know guys.... prices just seem inflated for everything, and engines more than most. When you can buy a new quality chainsaw for a couple of hundred bucks, it just seems insane to be paying 500 dollars or more for a model airplane engine. Yes, I know all about "supply and demand" and mass production, etc. But it sure is irritating that any thing for a boat, airplane, hot rod, modeling purchases, etc. are so highly priced. Any full size boat owner knows, figure what an item you want to buy is worth, and double it and you might be close to the actual purchase price. In modeling, a pack of plastic servo arms... 10 bucks!!?? Come on...

A person would not be able to have an "engine sales only" business and be able to survive with what I would consider "fair" pricing, but you won't catch me paying 300 dollars and up for an airplane engine. That's why I use only engines I have converted from leaf blowers, chain saws, etc. Maybe I don't get the latest-greatest power to weight available, but I get most of my engines for less than 50 bucks. I have 12 airplanes flying... NO WAY that I could do/enjoy that if I were paying the going rate for the gasoline engines on them. They all fly great, are reliable, etc. My Echo 24cc engines turn a 16 x 8 prop at over 9000 rpms and weigh just over 2 lbs. Good enough for me.

The DLE 20 really caught my eye when it came out, and buying one for around 200 bucks is conceiveable for me. When the price is pushing 300 with shipping, I say "No Way!"

Just my thoughts... But then I get "sticker shock" just walking through the grocery store these days.

AV8TOR